Originally Posted by
Mikaela
Julia, I have to disagree with some of what you said, but even when I do, it's a disagreement on degree or semantics. I'm not saying you are WRONG, I just believe that we do have some points of similarity even when you feel we don't. Keep in mind CDs have our own spectrum as well.
If I was growing up with the info and financial resources I have now, I'd have considered therapy, treatment, and hrt. I may very well have transitioned. It may have been the wrong decision, but it would have been considered. I don't feel the revulsion of my body that most TSs I've spoken to do, but I often get dysphoria and things don't seem to be right. That's not the same as someone who likes panties or stockings. Does that make me a TS? No, but it is why I've felt more in common with some TSs than many CDs. But there is a reason when people ask me what I am, I usually say "Just a CD," and that is because I recognize the difference.
There is nothing wrong with co-opting the struggle, so to speak. TS people are piggybacking off the gay/lesbians. I'd considered a sexuality struggle being different than a gender rights issue, but that's just me. To the people who are ignorant and opposed, we're all sick in the head drag queens anyway. Spend 10 minutes on FARK when a TS issue comes up and you'll see the greatness of humanity.
Going to cut out the words in your quotes that don't apply...
"The cross dresser does not know the discrimination of coming out at work as a woman and having your co workers laugh, threaten, bully or fire you because of what you are. The cross dresser does not know the pain of losing everything and evreyone close to them due to [outing themselves]"
Uh, considering I've heard comments at work about drag queens, I'd disagree. And yes, we can be fired for it covertly or an alternate reason be found. We're all seen as perverts or 'fags' regardless of our reasons. There are real consequences to us outting ourselves. The primary difference here is a TS must out themselves to transition, while we get a choice to hide it or not do something stupid to risk it (underdress). There's a reason we feel guilt and shame and secrecy, why we purge. So no, it's not exactly the same, but there are enough points of comparison to more than adequately empathize.
"The cross dresser does not care to alter his body by hormone therapy and or surgeries in order to survive. They don't have to, their bodies are already correct for their mind. "
Some CDs do it for aesthetics (of which I disagree). I know of some myself in person. Others, like me, do have dysphoria. Maybe whatever causes transsexualism can have degrees associated with it. I don't know.
"Cross dressers do not live full time as a woman so they do not have to face the threat of violence that too many transitioned TS and IS women have to face on a daily basis."
Again, I disagree, but only in semantic degrees. No, we generally don't live full time as a woman or deal with it daily, but we do have the threat of violence every time we go out. I know of someone that was kidnapped and held for a couple days and raped and they are 'just a CD.' Just last weekend with my girlfriend in my arm, a guy came up to me and put his hand up my thigh under my skirt.